Hamish Chimanlal, Tonga's taekwondo star, strikes gold in South Korea
Hamish Chimanlal, a Tongan national of Indian and Fijian descent and a University of Auckland student, believes his destiny is to continue excelling in the sport.
Hamish Chimanlal, a taekwondo athlete from Tonga of Indian and Fijian heritage, has achieved a major milestone in his career by winning gold at the Kimunyong Cup 2026 in South Korea. The University of Auckland student, who first fell in love with the martial art due to its resemblance to Kung Fu movies he watched as a child, competed in the Senior Male 2 Knife-Hand Breaking division.
Chimanlal's win marks his first international appearance for Tonga and his first gold medal in the breaking discipline, which involves breaking bricks to showcase hand skills. His victory not only brought pride to his home country but also helped to promote Tonga to a global audience. Chimanlal's success has been a source of inspiration for his family and the Tonga National Taekwondo Association, who are all proud of his achievement.
Looking ahead, the athlete aims to represent Tonga in the upcoming Pacific Games in Tahiti and potentially qualify for the Olympic Games.
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